Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald has called for an all-island approach to exiting COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.

Ms McDonald also said that she does not believe that there has been a ‘sufficiently united front’ between the two governments so far.

Her words came after Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s speech announcing that restrictions will continue until May 18 with just two relaxations as well as outlining the Irish government’s roadmap to normalcy.

Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald has called for an all-island approach to exiting COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. Pic: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie

Speaking to Caitriona Perry on RTE News, the TD for Dublin West said that both Dublin and Belfast need to be ‘in lockstep’.

‘The only way that we can safely move ahead and certainly count on a safe exit is on the basis of an all-Ireland strategy and approach,’ she said.

Mary Lou McDonald also said that she does not believe that there has been a ‘sufficiently united front’ between the two governments handling of COVID-19 so far. Pic: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie

‘We need, on the one hand, a more energetic pursuance of an all-Ireland approach by the government in Dublin and we also need colleagues in the Executive to co-operate.’

Ms McDonald stressed that this was not about ‘constitutional politics’.

Mary Lou McDonald has said that governments in both Dublin and Belfast need to be ‘in lockstep’ in regards to COVID-19 exit plans. Pic: Sam Boal / RollingNews.ie

‘For the purposes of public health, we are a single population and a single island,’ she continued.

‘This virus is deadly, we have no immunity, we have as of yet no effective anti-virals, vaccination is someway off — we wait for the day when science delivers that for us.

‘In the meantime — the sensible approach, the caring approach is to ensure that we work together right across the island, to keep our people well and to save lives.’

‘We need, on the one hand, a more energetic pursuance of an all-Ireland approach by the government in Dublin and we also need colleagues in the Executive to co-operate,’ Mary Lou McDonald said. Pic: Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie

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